Aztec dog gains popularity in US after 'Coco'

Robyn Beck/Getty

The Mexican hairless dog, the Xoloitzcuintle.

The Mexican hairless dog, the Xoloitzcuintle.

(Robyn Beck/Getty)

Jacqueline SerratoHOY

When the average American thinks of a Mexican dog, the little feisty Chihuahua comes to mind. This is largely thanks to the fast food giant Taco Bell that used the Chihuahua as its mascot, and whose television commercials have received criticism over the years for perpetuating Mexican stereotypes.

But since the promotion of "Coco" this year, the new Disney Pixar movie based on the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead has awakened a binational interest for the noble and charismatic Aztec dog or the "Mexican hairless" dog: the Xoloitzcuintle.

The animated film revolves around a Mexican boy named Miguel who, following his dream to become a musician, runs away from home and ends up in the Land of the Dead with his ancestors —a likely reference to Mictlán of the indigenous Mexica tradition. Miguel is accompanied by a street Xoloitzcuintle named Dante who, according to ancient beliefs, has the ability to guide souls in their journey to the underworld upon their death.

The term Xoloitzcuintle comes from the Aztec language Nahuatl. 'Xólotl' means strange and itzcuintli signifies dog.

In the old Mexican belief system, Xolotl was the god of transformation, duplicity; of darkness and the unknown. He was considered the twin brother of the supreme god, Quetzalcoatl, and was depicted as a man with a dog's head, according to the Association of Friends of the Museum of Mexican Popular Art.

The origin of the Xolos goes back about 3,000 years. For a long time, they were an endangered species. The Spanish conquest of Mexico almost wiped them out, and since then they have been cast aside because of their peculiar appearance. The ancient breed has won dog competitions in Mexico and the United States for being the "ugliest" dog, despite its intelligence, ability, and speed.

A small but growing population of Xoloitzcuintles can be found in the Chicago area. Sol Hernandez is a Pilsen resident who owns a family of five Xolos since before they were "trendy," she said.

Hernández imported her first Xolo, Xihuitl, from Guadalajara, Jalisco in 2010. Soon after, she brought a female, Etskuni, which in 2016 gave birth to three puppies. Mother Xolo sometimes hunts squirrels, Hernandez said, as the breed is known for hunting coyotes.

The xoloitzcuintle comes in miniature, intermediate and standard size. Their slim, dark bodies lack hair, except for the tufts on their head, and occasional hair on the spine and the tip of the tail.

Courtesy

Sol Hernández, from Chicago, owns a family of five Xolos.

Sol Hernández, from Chicago, owns a family of five Xolos.

(Courtesy)

"They need a lot of space and they are sensitive to the cold. They are not ordinary dogs," Hernandez warned those who might be thinking of obtaining a "sacred" dog after watching the movie.

The Xolos have roots in the state of Hidalgo and are concentrated in central Mexico. In Chicago, Xolo dogs can be found in some homes in Little Village, Albany Park, and Cicero.

In 2016, the Xoloitzcuintle was officially recognized as part of the cultural heritage in Mexico City.